Lakewood, Washington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lakewood
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City of Lakewood
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Location of Lakewood in
Pierce County and Washington |
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| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | Pierce |
| Settled | 1833 |
| Incorporated | February 28, 1996 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council–manager |
| Area | |
| • Total | 18.89 sq mi (48.93 km2) |
| • Land | 17.06 sq mi (44.18 km2) |
| • Water | 1.83 sq mi (4.74 km2) 9.39% |
| Elevation | 262 ft (80 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 63,612 |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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62,303 |
| • Rank | US: 619th WA: 21st |
| • Density | 3,667.0/sq mi (1,416.0/km2) |
| Demonym(s) | Lakewoodian |
| Time zone | UTC–8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC–7 (PDT) |
| ZIP codes |
98439, 98498, 98499
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| Area code(s) | 253 |
| FIPS code | 53-38038 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1512373 |
| Sales tax | 10.1% |
Lakewood is a city located in Pierce County, Washington, United States. It's a lively place with a population of about 63,612 people, according to the 2020 census.
Contents
History of Lakewood
Becoming a City
Lakewood officially became a city on February 28, 1996. This happened on the same day as Edgewood. When it became a city, Lakewood immediately became the second largest city in Pierce County. It also became one of the biggest cities in the entire state of Washington.
People in Lakewood had tried to make it a city three times before. These attempts were in 1971, 1990, and 1994, but voters said no. Finally, on March 14, 1995, the idea was approved by a large number of votes.
Past Names and Local Spots
In the past, Lakewood was known by other names like Tacoma/Lakewood Center and Lakes District. The U.S. Census even used "Lakes District" in their surveys in the 1970s and 1980s.
Today, Lakewood is home to several important places. These include the Clover Park School District, the Lakewood Water District, and Fort Steilacoom Park. It also has Western State Hospital, which is a large hospital for mental health care. You can also find Thornewood Castle nearby, which is a historic building.
Solving a Name Mix-Up
There was a bit of confusion because another small community in Snohomish County was also called Lakewood. This other community had used the name for its post office since 1909. This caused mail to get mixed up between the two places.
To fix this, the United States Postal Service suggested that the new city of Lakewood change its name. However, since the other community wasn't officially a city, its post office was renamed "North Lakewood" in 1998. This helped make sure everyone's mail went to the right place!
Lakewood's Geography
Location and Area
Lakewood is located at 47°10′N 122°32′W / 47.167°N 122.533°W. The city covers a total area of about 18.95 square miles (48.93 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 17.17 square miles (44.18 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 1.78 square miles (4.74 square kilometers), is water.
Lakes and Waterways
You'll find several beautiful lakes within Lakewood's city limits. The biggest ones are American Lake, Lake Steilacoom, Gravelly Lake, Lake Louise, and Waughop Lake. Waughop Lake is actually part of Fort Steilacoom Park, which is a great place to visit.
Many small creeks also flow through Lakewood. Some of these creeks eventually lead to the nearby Puget Sound. The largest creek is Chambers Creek. It flows from Lake Steilacoom all the way to Chambers Bay, which is located between the nearby cities of University Place and Steilacoom.
Major Roads
The end of State Route 512 is in Lakewood. It connects with Interstate 5 here. There's also a planned road called State Route 704 that would enter the city.
Lakewood's Population
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1970 | 48,195 | — | |
| 1980 | 54,533 | 13.2% | |
| 1990 | 58,412 | 7.1% | |
| 2000 | 58,211 | −0.3% | |
| 2010 | 58,163 | −0.1% | |
| 2020 | 63,612 | 9.4% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 62,303 | 7.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2020 Census |
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Population Details (2010)
According to the 2010 census, there were 58,163 people living in Lakewood. These people lived in 24,069 households, and 14,412 of these were families. The city had about 3,387.5 people per square mile.
When looking at the different groups of people, about 59.3% were White, 11.8% were African American, and 9.0% were Asian. About 15.3% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
Households and Age
Out of all the households, about 29.8% had children under 18 living there. About 39.3% were married couples living together. The average household had 2.36 people, and the average family had 2.98 people.
The average age of people in Lakewood was 36.6 years old. About 22.7% of residents were under 18 years old. About 10.9% were between 18 and 24, and 26.4% were between 25 and 44. The city's population was almost evenly split between males (49.0%) and females (51.0%).
Education in Lakewood
Public and Private Schools
The Clover Park School District manages most of the public schools in Lakewood. Besides public schools, there are also private schools like St Frances Cabrini School, St Mary's Christian School, and Lakewood Lutheran School.
Colleges and Universities
Lakewood is also home to two important colleges. These are Pierce College Fort Steilacoom and Clover Park Technical College. These colleges offer many different programs for students.
Some parts of Lakewood are also served by the Steilacoom Historical School District and Tacoma Public Schools.
Lakewood's Economy
Lakewood's economy is strongly connected to the nearby Joint Base Lewis-McChord. This military base brings many jobs and people to the area.
The city also has a special area called the International District. You can find this along South Tacoma Way and Pacific Highway. It's a vibrant place with many businesses and cultural influences from Korean, Vietnamese, Chinese, and Latino communities. For example, nearly half the people in Lakewood's Tillicum neighborhood speak a language other than English.
Media and News
News about Lakewood is mainly covered by The News Tribune newspaper, which is based in Tacoma. Sometimes, news from the media in Seattle also covers Lakewood.
In the past, Lakewood had its own weekly newspapers. These included the Lakewood Log (around the 1930s), Suburban Times (1960s–1982), Lakewood Press (1980s), and Lakewood Journal (1990s).
For radio, KLAY-AM offers talk radio specifically for Lakewood. There was also KVTI-FM, known as "I-91 FM," which played top 40 music from its studio at Clover Park Technical College. However, in 2010, the college changed management, and the station stopped its local programs. Lakewood also receives television and radio stations from the Seattle area.
Notable People from Lakewood
Many interesting people have connections to Lakewood:
- Zach Banner, a professional American football player
- Llewellyn Chilson, a U.S. Army soldier
- Edgar N. Eisenhower, a lawyer and brother of U.S. president Dwight D. Eisenhower
- William Hardin Harrison, a U.S. Army General and the first mayor of Lakewood
- Jermaine Kearse, a professional American football player
- Craig Lancaster, a novelist
- James S. Russell, a U.S. Navy Admiral
- Emeka Egbuka, an Ohio State wide receiver
Points of Interest in Lakewood
There are several interesting places to visit in Lakewood:
- Fort Steilacoom
- Lakewold Gardens
- Lakewood Towne Center
- Lakewood Playhouse
- Thornewood
- Western State Hospital
Recognition for Lakewood
Lakewood and Pierce County were recognized as one of the "100 Best Places for Young People" by America's Promise. This shows that the area is a great place for young people to grow up and thrive.
See also
In Spanish: Lakewood (Washington) para niños
